Following the 2013-14 men’s basketball season, Virginia faced the daunting challenge of replacing longtime stalwarts in guard Joe Harris and forward Akil Mitchell. And as the 2015 season will tip off in only about two-and-a-half months, the Cavaliers are currently looking for successors to guard Justin Anderson and forward Darion Atkins.
But the obstacles faced these past two summers could have ended up looking like cakewalks by the 2016 offseason, when coach Tony Bennett will lose three starters — guard Malcolm Brogdon, forward Anthony Gill and center Mike Tobey — and a rotation player — forward Evan Nolte — to graduation.
Thankfully, Bennett planned ahead.
Virginia currently boasts the nation’s top-ranked 2016 recruiting class, according to 24/7 sports. Going by ESPN’s newly updated player database, the Cavaliers, along with Florida State, have the highest number of top-100 recruits with three. And per 24/7 sports, Virginia is undisputed as the only school with four top-100 players.
After a stellar summer at numerous recruiting camps, committed guard Kyle Guy ascended to ESPN’s No. 25 prospect and earned a five-star rating. Future backcourt mate Ty Jerome maintained his four-star status, bumping up to No. 54 overall. Although forward Jay Huff is unlisted by ESPN, he holds a four-star ranking as the No. 88 overall player by Scout.
Still technically part of the 2016 class, forward Mamadi Diakite, who committed in early August, hopes to reclassify to 2015. Although the athletic department has not released an official statement, Diakite is currently enrolled at Virginia. As the No. 37 overall player by ESPN, a redshirt year under strength and conditioning coach Mike Curtis would prepare the Blue Ridge product for a big 2016-17 season.
And often forgot due to the prestige of next year’s incoming freshmen is forward Austin Nichols, who transferred from Memphis in July. Per NCAA regulations, the former five-star recruit must sit out the 2015-16 season before returning with two years of eligibility. The Collierville, Tennessee native was an All-American Athletic Conference first team member in 2014-15 while ranking third nationally with 3.4 blocked shots per game.
Despite the aura of uncertainty that will follow this upcoming season, Virginia will be poised to compete yet again in 2016-17. Steady point guard London Perrantes will be a senior and will likely be paired with the sharpshooting Guy in the backcourt. Guard Marial Shayok seems to be the favorite to play as the wing, while Jerome and guards Devon Hall and Darius Thompson can rotate at all three positions.
Meanwhile, Bennett will have an array of options in the frontcourt. Assuming Diakite successfully reclassifies, he and Nichols will form a fierce tandem under the rim. Add in expected improvement from forwards Isaiah Wilkins and Jarred Reuter along with center Jack Salt, and the Cavaliers shouldn’t miss too much of a beat from Gill and Tobey’s departure.
At this time a year ago, the 2016-17 campaign seemed like it would be a rebuilding season for Bennett’s Cavaliers. But with the hoard of incoming talent, expect Virginia to still be pretty darn good.
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